Chapter 2 — The Brother Nobody Expected
Aaron Mercer was Elliot’s identical twin brother.
Noah had no idea Elliot even had a brother.
Apparently, neither did most of the event staff.
Aaron slowly approached.
He looked toward the receipt in Noah’s hand.
Then toward the paused security footage.
“I can explain.”
Elliot laughed bitterly.
“Of course you can.”
Harrison looked between them.
“You were here at five fourteen?”
Aaron nodded.
“Yes.”
Noah held up the receipt.
“And you signed your brother’s name?”
Aaron hesitated.
“Yes.”
Elliot’s face hardened.
“You impersonated me.”
“For a dinner reservation.”
“That isn’t an improvement.”
Harrison pointed toward Salon C.
“Why did you reserve a private room under Elliot’s name?”
Aaron looked toward the ballroom.
“Because if I used mine, the reservation would have been canceled.”
Elliot went completely still.
“How do you know that?”
Aaron looked at him.
“Because you told the foundation not to let me attend.”
Noah slowly turned toward Elliot.
Harrison frowned.
“Is that true?”
Elliot didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“Yes.”
Aaron smiled without humor.
“There it is.”
Harrison looked increasingly frustrated.
“Someone needs to start at the beginning.”
Aaron took a breath.
“My mother asked me to arrange the private supper.”
Elliot stared at him.
“Mom?”
“Yes.”
“She doesn’t even know you’re here.”
Aaron’s expression changed.
“That’s what you think.”
Elliot looked toward the entrance again.
“Where is she?”
Aaron glanced at his watch.
“On her way.”
Elliot looked genuinely alarmed now.
“You brought Mom to this?”
“She brought herself.”
Noah frowned.
“What’s supposed to happen in Salon C?”
Aaron answered:
“Dinner.”
Then he looked directly at Elliot.
“For our family.”